Origin of Patatas a la Riojana

Rioja-style potatoes (known as ‘patatas a la Riojana’ in Spain) is a classic winter recipe from La Rioja in Spain. It is also found prominently in the Basque region of Spain. It is made with bell peppers, raw chorizo sausage, and potatoes. The dish is said to have originated around the early 19th Century and has been considered a contender for the title of ‘national dish of Spain’.

Outside of Spain, Rioja-style potatoes are hardly known. For many years, this recipe has flown under the radar of many kitchens, making this a fantastic dish when you want to impress. What is effectively a potato stew is transformed with the help of paprika, chorizo pepper, and fresh raw chorizo sausage.

What Potatoes to Use for Patatas a la Riojana

Russet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, and red potatoes are all good options for this recipe. They will hold together and have a good texture when stewed. 

Potatoes and chorizo are a popular pairing in many Spanish recipes. Here are a few more to try: smoky Spanish chorizo stew with spinach and chickpeas, roasted potatoes with chorizo and thyme, and smoky sweet potato chorizo one pot. 

Spanish Chorizo Substitute

While you can buy dry/slicing Spanish chorizo in many supermarkets outside of Spain, tracking down fresh chorizo might be more tricky. Specialty Spanish stores like La Tienda stock it or you can use a substitute. 

You can use Mexican chorizo and make some adjustments:

• Add extra smoked paprika – Spanish chorizo typically has more paprika than Mexican, so adding extra to your dish will give it a more similar flavor. 
• Add more garlic – Both types usually come with garlic but Spanish often has more. Check the packaging of your Mexican chorizo and if there’s no garlic, add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder while cooking. 

Something else to note is that Mexican chorizo will nearly always be spicier and contain chili. Traditional Spanish chorizo doesn’t have chili, although it can have a very mild heat from the smoked paprika. 

While there are other potential differences, for this recipe the main thing to note is the paprika and making sure you get that lovely smoky flavor.

Chorizo Pepper vs Ñora Pepper: What’s the Difference? 

Chorizo Pepper (Pimiento Choricero)

A native to the La Rioja region of Spain, these peppers are usually sold dried in a bundle tied with string. They are not typically considered a spicy pepper and require rehydration by soaking them in water for 20 minutes before cooking. 

Chorizo peppers can be difficult to source outside of Spain, and are more likely to be found as chorizo pepper ‘paste’ sold in small jars at specialty Spanish food stores. Online stores may also stock chorizo pepper paste (one such example is this Choricero Pepper Paste from Amazon). 

Ñora Pepper

The Ñora is a small round pepper that originates from the Valencia region of Spain. They are a popular ingredient for making paella and other rice dishes and are also ground and used to make paprika powder. 

They are commonly found dried and can be rehydrated and ground into a paste, or finely diced and ground. 

It’s not easy to find Ñora outside of Spain (although easier than the chorizo pepper), however, you can get them on Amazon, like these Dried Ñora Peppers. You can also try any local or online specialty Spanish stores near you. 

Water or Meat Broth: Which is better to use for making Patatas a la Riojana

We recommend using water when making this recipe as the chorizo sausage will contain plenty of salt. Meat broth or stock will add a lot of salt and may over-season the dish. If you prefer to use a meat broth, ensure it is a low-sodium variety.

Looking for More Dinner Recipes?

• Baked chicken thighs with potatoes – this healthy and delicious one-pot meal is ready in around an hour. 
• Chicken chorizo chili – this dish has oodles of flavor thanks to the added spices, and of course the chorizo (ready in 1 hour, 15 min). 
• Spicy Mediterranean chicken thighs – marinate some chicken thighs in plenty of Mediterranean herbs and spices, then bake (1 hr, 45 min total). 
• Spicy Spanish pork stew – this one-pot recipe uses different cuts of pork and has chickpeas and potatoes (takes 2 hours).
• Roast chicken thighs with wine, tomato, and herbs – this is an easy recipe to make and you can mix and cook all the ingredients in one pot in under 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts